andissolving parliament calling a new election she is aiming to cool public anger. the message from bangkok is that the capital was now calm after several weeks of violent demonstrations. monday, at least 150,000 antigovernment protesters took to the streets. a series of sacred masks belonging to naked -- belonging to native americans have gone under the hammer at sotheby's despite the requests that the auction be delayed. they wanted the sale suspended due to the cultural and religious significance. the sale followed a judge will -- a judges dismissal on the sale. >> according to their tribe, the masks are sacred, used in religious ceremony. last april, 70 were sold at auction for around 900 30,000 euros, despite international appeals to halt the sale. >> the sacred objects to be auctioned are sacred to us because for us they are special, they are a part of our lives. >> the case was taken hold of and france just a few days before the auction. >> all that we ask is that we be given the time to determine where the masks come from and whether they have importance to